Forget-Me-Not: Tips for Buying, Planting & Caring for

The blue flowers have always had a special meaning. We show you what to consider when buying, planting and caring for forget-me-nots.

The forget-me-not (Myosotis) is a very popular garden plant. Is that due to its beautiful appearance or the meaningful name? Probably both. What is certain is that the mostly blue, small flowers look good in both the tub and the bed and are easy to grow yourself. You can find out from us what special features there are and what you have to pay attention to when growing in your own garden. We have summarized everything you need to know about the origin, purchase, planting and care of forget-me-nots for you in this article.

Forget-me-not types

Forget-me-not is a whole genus of plants from the predatory family (Boraginaceae). There are over 50 different species worldwide that belong to the forget-me-not genus. The following are the most popular types of forget-me-nots:

• Forest forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica)
• Swamp forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)
• Alpine forget-me-nots (Myosotis alpestris)
• Field forget-me-nots (Myosotis arvensis)
• Lawn forget-me-nots (Myosotis laxa)

There is also the Caucasus forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla), although not to the MyosotisGenus, but its flowers are very reminiscent of those of the other forget-me-not species.

Forget-me-not plants can reach heights of between 10 and 30 centimeters and usually grow as bushy perennials. Forget-me-nots keep their green leaves covered with fine hairs even in winter. The flowers are five-fold and usually appear in the familiar blue. But there are also varieties that bloom white or pink.

Forget-me-not: origin and meaning

Since the 15th The German name “Vergissmeinnicht” has already been attested in the 19th century, but the plant is probably much older. For a long time it was considered a wild plant, until it was discovered in the 19th century. Century in Germany and England began to cultivate it as a garden plant. The designation Myosotis is Greek and means mouse ear. This means the leaves of this plant genus, because they are not shaped like mouse ears. There are many myths and stories about the origin of the name of the forget-me-not. One of them says that lovers were once walking by the river when the girl discovered a beautiful blue flower on the bank of the river. When the boy went down the bank to pick the flower for his beloved, he fell into the river and was carried away by the current. The last thing he could say to his beloved was "Forget me not". Another story says that the blue color of the flowers is reminiscent of the blue eyes of those newly in love who loved to give the flower to each other as a token of love and loyalty. A third myth relates that the little flower once asked God not to forget it. Hence the name. Regardless of where the name of forget-me-not comes from, the flower is also called that in many other countries. In England, for example, it is called “forget-me-not”, in France “ne m’oubliez pas”. And even in China the flower translates as “don't forget me”.

Forget-me-nots buy

If you don't have a forget-me-not in your own garden, you have two options, either to buy a young plant or to grow your forget-me-not from seeds yourself. Forget-me-not seeds and plants can be found in many hardware stores, garden centers and even on the Internet.

When buying seeds, you should pay attention to the use-by date, as seeds lose their ability to germinate over time. In addition, the type and variety should play a role in the purchase, as they determine the location and the flower color. In the case of young plants, you should also make sure that the plant is in good health.

Plant forget-me-nots

Forget-me-nots grow both in the bed and in the pot. Below we show what you should consider when planting forget-me-nots

Plant forget-me-nots in the bed

When planting forget-me-nots, the question arises as to whether you want to prefer your plants yourself or put purchased plants in the bed. You can prefer your forget-me-nots on the windowsill in the fall. These can then be put outdoors from mid-May next year. You can also plant forget-me-not plants that you have bought outdoors in mid-May. Another option is direct sowing in the garden from June to July.

Forget-me-nots have different location requirements depending on the species. The forest forget-me-not prefers a partially shaded, never full sun. The swamp forget-me-not would like to get wet feet and therefore prefers to stand in damp locations. Both species like loose, well-drained soil with a pH of at least 6.5 to 7. When planting forget-me-nots, prepare the bed by loosening the soil and clearing it of weeds. If you have a good quality garden soil like that Plantura organic potting soil there is no need to enrich the soil with compost or organic fertilizer. The plants are then placed in the ground with a row spacing of 20 centimeters and a distance of also 20 centimeters between the plants and watered.

What's the best way to plant forget-me-nots?

• Best time to sow: in autumn
• Put plants outdoors: mid-May
• Direct sowing outdoors: From June to July
• Location requirements for forest forget-me-nots: Partly shaded
• Location requirements Swamp forget-me-nots: Damp and wet
• Well drained soil with a pH of 6.5 - 7
• Loosen the soil well and enrich it with compost or organic slow-release fertilizer
• Row spacing: 20 cm
• Plant spacing: 20 cm

Plant forget-me-nots in the pot

When planting forget-me-nots in pots, you should make sure to choose a sufficiently large planter with a drainage hole. Normal potting soil or rhododendron soil are suitable as a substrate. Here, too, is the peat-free Plantura Organic potting soil excellently suited. The ideal planting distance in the pot for forget-me-nots is 15 centimeters. In the pot, forget-me-nots don't like direct sunlight and prefer to be in a partially shaded location.

A detailed guide to the right one Plants of forget-me-nots in the garden and in the pot we have prepared for you here.

Forget-me-not multiply

If forget-me-nots feel really comfortable in their location and if they are not cut back too early, they will multiply through self-sowing. This is the case with the forest, Caucasus, and swamp forget-me-not species. But of course there are also ways to multiply the forget-me-not yourself. Propagation by division and cuttings is ideal for this purpose.

When dividing, after flowering, a large and healthy eyrie of forget-me-nots is dug out with a spade and cut with a sharp knife. Each section should have enough root mass to survive. You can then replant the sections at the desired new location.

Increase forget-me-nots by dividing:

• Dig up eyrie after flowering
• Cut with a sharp knife
• Each section must have enough root mass
• Plant section at a new location

For propagation by cuttings, cuttings are cut from the forget-me-not plant with a sharp knife between the stem and the roots. Each cutting should therefore have a piece of the root. You can coat the interfaces with some charcoal to protect the area from disease. The cuttings are then placed in a glass with water, preferably rainwater. Now wait for roots to form on the cuttings.

Tip: To counteract the formation of rot in the water, you can add some wood ash to the water.

As soon as the cuttings are sufficiently rooted, they can be planted in the bed or in pots. It is ideal to cut the cuttings in autumn and to overwinter the young plants in a warm place. You can then put the vigorous young plants outdoors next spring.

Propagate forget-me-nots by cuttings:

• Cut off cuttings between the stem and the roots
• The cutting must have a bit of root
• Disinfect the interface with charcoal
• Place cuttings in a glass with rainwater
• When enough roots have been formed, the cuttings can be planted out

Maintain forget-me-nots

The forget-me-not is considered to be very easy to care for. However, there are a few points to consider. Correct watering is at the center of the correct care of the forget-me-not. Regular watering is essential, especially in summer and when cultivating in pots or tubs. You shouldn't drown your forget-me-nots either. The top layer of soil should always be dry before you water your forget-me-not again. The fertilization of the forget-me-nots is also manageable: in the spring you can fertilize it with compost, horn meal or organic long-term fertilizer. Our is ideally suited for this Plantura organic flower fertilizer with a long-term effect that slowly and gently releases the nutrients to the forget-me-not. Further fertilization later in the year is no longer necessary.

If you want your forget-me-nots to seed themselves in the garden, then you should prune them back to just above the ground in the spring. On the other hand, if self-sowing is undesirable, you can boldly start pruning in autumn after flowering so that the seeds do not spread around the garden.

In general, forget-me-nots are hardy and can withstand cold and frost in winter. Nevertheless, frost protection can be recommended if the plants are freshly placed in the bed. Then you can cover your forget-me-nots with sticks or straw to protect them from severe frost.

What's the best way to care for forget-me-nots?

• Water regularly
• Fertilize in spring with compost, horn shavings or organic slow-release fertilizer
• For self-sowing, cut the plants back to just above the ground in spring
• To prevent self-sowing, prune plants immediately after flowering
• Protect freshly planted forget-me-nots from frost with brushwood or straw

Are forget-me-nots poisonous?

The leaves, flowers and stems of the forget-me-not contain very small amounts of tannic acid, potassium and alkaloids. These are poisonous if consumed in excess. The concentration of these substances in the plant parts of the forget-me-not is, however, extremely low. So you would have to eat several kilograms of forget-me-not flowers to be poisoned. Forget-me-nots are therefore safe even for small children. Animals cannot poison themselves with forget-me-nots either. If dogs and cats nibble on it, there is no health risk. On the contrary - forget-me-nots were even considered a remedy in the past and are now used in herbal cuisine. Although the flowers have a very low taste of their own, they are a real eye-catcher. The beautiful flowers are therefore wonderful as an ornament on cakes, desserts or in salads.